Head sensations and headaches

Sadden · November 2019

Hello everyone. I am one month from a 1-year anniversary since any treatment (surgery in Dec 2017, chemo, radiation and Herceptin in 2018). During treatment I had head sensations. My scalp was sensitive and stayed cold; I wore hats all day. I remember I had mild headaches that were more like weird head sensations than a normal headache. What I was feeling were isolated pain either on the top of my head, or left side by my ear, or right side by my ear, or back of my head. On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain was a 3 and lasted for 30 seconds. This pain is occurring on and off all day for about 2 weeks now. Six months ago, when I saw my oncologist, it wasn't occurring daily and although I shared it with her, she did not think they were a sign of a brain tumor. Last Friday, I saw my oncologists' Adv Nurse Practitioner, and told her these headaches occur daily. She also does not believe it is a brain tumor. She gave me an order for an MRI to assuage my fears, but I don't want to do that. Has anyone experienced this type of head pain? I also have a stiff neck, been sleeping on my non-cancer side for months and think this might be the cause. I will look into getting a deep massage or acupuncture. but in the meantime, would really like to know if anyone had this type of head pain: a dull pain for about a minute at different parts of your head? So anxious about this.

SummerAngel · November 2019

I have headaches similar to that. My pains are sharp, though. They last less than a minute and most often occur just above my left ear. I also get weird scalp sensations sometimes, like a "shiver" of my scalp. I've been getting all of these for years so I just disregard them as a symptom of something more serious.

2019whatayear · November 2019

I have had that over the years. I think it may just be sinus related- esp over the ears. Don't think it would be a tumor.

Sadden · December 2019

Hello ladies, I am new at how to use online forums. I hope you got my first reply to you, thanking you guys for your reassuring words. I am back …. not trying to beat a dead horse, but wondered if you or anyone reading this has also experienced any lightheadedness? Very mild, occurs on and off, and so slight I often wonder if I really felt it. Since I wrote this post, I am experiencing this "swooney" feeling everyday for a second or two, several times a day.

I just want to be educated on what is occurring, and not be melodramatic about every symptom. I have never had headaches (other than when I cry hard or had a cold), feelings of head sensitivity (shivers) or lightheadedness in my life, until being diagnosed with BC. So, I'd just like to know what is the new normal. I'd really hate to get an unnecessary MRI, if what I am experiencing are just side effects of treatment. Does this make sense? To further explain why I am concerned …. during this one year since my last treatment, I've had eye blurring. Got an eye exam, no eye problems. My gums ached, went to the dentist, no cavities or infections. My ears began ringing; got an ear exam. Asked if it was tinnitus, and was told yes. I have mild tinnitus and a little water in my right ear; told it would go away. After some researching, I discovered the drug Carboplatin causes tinnitus (ear ringing) and Herceptin can cause cold-like symptoms. So, if my new normal is just side effects from the drugs, I am elated! No reason to fear recurrence yet! But, the only way I can know this is by asking others if they experienced these same symptoms. Hope that explains why I am still concerned.

Hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

pupmom · December 2019

Sadden, sorry you are having these problems, but nobody here can possibly diagnose you. Your only real option is to talk with your doctor, and see if s/he thinks a scan is necessary. But without a scan you'll never know. Also, since you haven't put your stats into your profile, we don't know how serious your cancer was.

ShetlandPony · December 2019

You say the only way you can know is to ask if others have the same symptoms. But another, more certain way to know is to have that MRI. They can look at the inner parts of your ears at the same time. What is it about the MRI that makes you not want to do it?

(I had a head MRI because of pulsatile tinnitus, and fortunately there was no aneurysm causing it. I find it reassuring to know my brain looked fine, too. It was not a difficult scan at all.)

AliceBastable · December 2019

Why wouldn't you want an MRI? It's really the only diagnostic tool for brain mets.

Sadden · December 2019

The reason I don't want an MRI is because my oncologist doesn't think I have a brain tumor. Neither do I. However, I do have these crazy minor symptoms and thought asking about it on a forum like this would be helpful. Does that make sense? Also …. a part of me is afraid. I went in for a routine mammogram, no symptoms and came out with Stage 3 cancer. Why would I want to have another exam only to learn I have a tumor, or cyst, brain mets, or an aneursym or lesion of some kind? That would mean more surgery, more chemo, more side effects ... no thank you!! I am not ready for that.

AliceBastable · December 2019

Remember, the MRI does not cause brain mets. The mammogram did not cause the cancerous tumor. That kind of thinking is like a child putting its hands over its face and thinking no one can see them.

ShetlandPony · December 2019

Sure, I understand asking others if they have had similar symptoms. That can be helpful for thinking about what the possibilities are. The trouble is, similar symptoms may have different causes, so at some point we may need some medical tests to figure out what is going on for us. I would say to the oncologist, “Ok, you do not think it is brain mets, so please give me another explanation, and tell me how we would find out if that explanation is correct. If you don’t know, what specialist should I see to figure this out?” I also understand being scared of a test and what it might show. Why would you want to learn about it if you did have something wrong? Well, because in many cases, the sooner you know, the easier or more successful the treatment may be. Of course whether you do treatment is your choice. Another good possibility is you could learn that nothing is wrong there, and then you could set a lot of worry aside. I mean, that is what the MRI did for me, crossed a worry off my list.

Sadden · December 2019

So true, and I will give that some thought as I ponder whether to get an MRI. Thanks for giving it to me straight!

Sadden · December 2019

Thank you for giving me something to work with ... your questions make sense and help alot. I will ask them at my next appointment!

jessie123 · December 2019

I've had all those symptoms and they get worse in the fall. I think it's sinus related, although I'm not congested. Get a 4 to 5 hour sudafed from the pharmacist and just take one tiny pill -- not two. See if that works. Sometimes people develop sinus problems later in life as I did.

Head sensations and headaches

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